Container for viscous liquid comprising a cap provided with a tap

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a container ( 1 ) including: an upper wall ( 2 ), a lower wall ( 4 ) and a side wall ( 6 ) defining an inner space ( 8 ), a single opening ( 12 ) extending along a main axis (A), a cap ( 18 ) including a flow duct ( 20 ) provided with an outlet ( 22 ) extending along an axis (S) substantially perpendicular to the main axis (A), and a pipe ( 44 ) including a first end ( 46 ) in fluid communication with the outlet ( 22 ) and a second end ( 48 ) intended for extending above the level of the liquid in the container, the pipe being rotatably secured with the cap and extending essentially along a tilted axis (T) forming an angle (α) of 25° to 75° with the main axis (A) and having a length no less than half the length of the container.

The present invention relates to a container of the type intended tocontain a liquid having a viscosity greater than 20 cSt, said containercomprising:

-   -   an upper wall, a lower wall and at least one side wall extending        between the upper wall and the lower wall, the walls defining an        inner space of the container,    -   a single orifice extending in said upper wall along a main axis,    -   a cap screwed on said upper wall so as to close the orifice,        said cap comprising a flow duct in fluid communication with the        inner space and provided with an outlet extending along an axis        substantially perpendicular to the main axis, said duct        comprising a liquid flow channel and an air passage channel        emerging in said outlet,    -   a pipe extending in the inner space and comprising a first end        in fluid communication with the outlet and a second end intended        to extend above the level of the liquid in the container, the        pipe being secured in rotation with the cap.

The present invention also relates to a method for using such acontainer.

The container according to the invention is particularly suitable forstoring oil or other viscous liquids.

Emptying such a container containing such a viscous liquid isproblematic because the viscosity of the liquid makes this operationparticularly time-consuming, in particular when the container is nearlyempty. Indeed, over the course of the emptying, a vacuum is createdinside the container and the flow rate of the liquid leaving thecontainer decreases as the container empties.

To offset this drawback, it has been proposed to add an air intake abovethe level of the liquid in the container in order to place the innerspace of the container not occupied by the liquid at atmosphericpressure. Document EP-1,378,485 for example describes the addition of aflexible pipe extending in the inner space of the container and beingprovided with a float making it possible to keep the free end of thepipe above the liquid level. The flexible pipe is connected to a tapsecured to a cap closing the orifice of the container.

Such a device is, however, not satisfactory for several reasons. Thedevice comprises several elements that must be assembled to one anotherand passed through the opening of the container to insert them into theinner space, which can be inconvenient and increases the time necessaryto place the device. Furthermore, the float can deteriorate in thecontainer and its material can pollute the liquid contained in thecontainer, in particular when the container stores the liquid for anextended length of time.

Furthermore, when the cap is screwed on the opening of the container,the flexible pipe and the float can form a “pellet” during the rotationof the cap and thus prevent satisfactory deployment of the pipe in thecontainer, the free end of which then is not located above the liquidlevel. If the device is incorrectly assembled and the float separatesfrom the pipe, the free end of the pipe is also no longer found abovethe liquid level, thereby preventing satisfactory operation of thedevice.

One of the aims of the invention is to offset the drawbacks describedabove by proposing a container allowing fast emptying while being easyto use and reliable.

To that end, the invention relates to a container of the aforementionedtype, wherein the pipe extends essentially along a tilted axis formingan angle substantially comprised between 25° and 75° with the main axisand having a length greater than or equal to half the length of thecontainer measured along the main axis.

By using a pipe extending along a tilted axis relative to the axis ofthe opening and providing a sufficient length of pipe, the containeraccording to the invention makes it possible to guarantee that the freeend of the pipe is always found above the liquid level without requiringthe use of a float. Furthermore, by providing that the angle formedbetween the axis of the pipe and the axis of the opening is not toolarge, it is guaranteed that the pipe will not be blocked by the sidewall of the container during screwing of the cap on the container. Thus,the pipe is placed without obstacle and automatically during thescrewing of the cap on the container. Thus, the container according tothe invention is simple and reliable to use and allows quick emptying,even with liquids having a high viscosity.

According to other features of the container according to the invention:

-   -   the pipe has a length greater than or equal to 75% of the length        of the container measured along the main axis;    -   the container comprises a separating wall extending in the flow        duct, said separating wall sealably separating the liquid flow        channel and the air passage channel;    -   the container comprises an element closing off the flow duct,        said element being movable between an open position, in which        the outlet is in fluid communication with the inner space, and a        closed position, in which the outlet is isolated from the inner        space;    -   the closing off element comprises an outer wall provided with a        liquid passage orifice and an air passage orifice, said outer        wall closing the flow duct in the closed position of the closing        off element and said passage openings being positioned        respectively across from the liquid flow channel and the air        passage channel in the open position of the closing off element;    -   the outer wall is rotatable around the axis of the outlet        between the closed position and the open position so as to move        the liquid and air passage openings outside or opposite the        liquid flow channel and the air passage channel;    -   the pipe is substantially rigid;    -   the pipe comprises a downstream segment extending substantially        rectilinearly along the main axis and an upstream segment        extending substantially rectilinearly along the tilted axis,        said pipe comprising a bend between the downstream segment and        the upstream segment, said bend forming an angle substantially        comprised between 25° and 75° between the tilted axis and the        main axis;    -   the pipe is formed in two parts, one of the parts being nested        on the other part.

The invention also relates to a method for using a container asdescribed above, the method comprising the following steps:

-   -   filling the container with a liquid having a viscosity greater        than 20 cSt through the opening, the container being in an        upright position, in which the main axis of the opening extends        substantially vertically,    -   closing the container using a cap screwed on the upper wall, the        angle formed by the pipe with the main axis being such that the        cap can be screwed without blocking the pipe against the side        wall of the container,    -   tilting the container from the upright position to a reclined        position, in which the main axis of the opening extends        substantially horizontally, such that the liquid can flow        through the flow duct while air is brought above the liquid        level in the container by the pipe.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear upon readingthe following description, provided as an example, and done in referenceto the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional schematic illustration of a container according tothe invention, in the reclined position, the closing off element beingin the open position,

FIG. 2 is an enlargement of zone II in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective illustration of the closing offelement of the cap of the container of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional illustration of the container of FIG. 1in the upright position, said container being closed by a traditionalcap.

In the description, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” are definedrelative to the direction of the liquid flowing outside the container.The terms “lower” and “upper” are defined relative to the axis of thecontainer when the latter is in its upright position, shown in FIG. 4.

In reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, a container 1 is described comprising anupper wall 2, a lower wall 4 and at least one side wall 6 connecting theupper 2 and lower 4 walls so as to define an inner space 8 extendingbetween the upper 2, lower 4 and side 6 walls.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the inner space 8 issubstantially parallelepiped and the container 1 comprises four sidewalls 6 defining the inner space 8. The illustrated container is thus ofthe “Jerry can” type. It is, however, understood that the inner space 8could have any other shape. As an example, the side wall 6 could be acylinder of revolution so as to form a container in the form of a can orbarrel. Advantageously, the lower wall 4 is configured so that thecontainer 1 can rest stably on this lower wall 4 when the container 1 isin an upright position, as shown in FIG. 4. Also advantageously, atleast one side wall 6 is also configured so that the container 1 canrest stably on this side wall 6 when the container is in a reclinedposition, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The container 1 can have any desired capacity; for example, the innerspace 8 may be 5 L or less than 40 L or more depending on the desireduse. According to one particular example, the inner space 8 issubstantially equal to 20 L.

In a known manner, the walls can be configured so that the container 1comprises a handle 10 or other gripping means and/or information on theorigin, contents, space of the container 1 and/or a logo, for example.

The upper wall 2 comprises a opening 12 making it possible to fill andempty the inner space 8. To that end, the opening 12 is the only openingof the container placing the inner space 8 in fluid communication withthe outside of the container 1. The opening 12 extends along a main axisA substantially perpendicular to the upper wall 2 and substantiallyparallel to the axis of the container 1. The main axis A extendssubstantially vertically when the container is in its upright position,as shown in FIG. 4, and substantially horizontally, or tilted downward,when the container 1 is in its reclined position, as shown in FIGS. 1and 2.

According to one embodiment, the opening 12 is situated near the or oneof the side wall(s) 6. More particularly, the opening 12 is situatednear the side wall 6 configured so that the container can rest on it inthe elongated position.

The opening 12 is defined by a mouth 14 extending from the upper wall 2along the main axis A toward the outside of the container 1. The mouth14 for example has a cylinder of revolution shape extending along andaround the main axis A. The mouth 14 is provided on its outer face witha thread 16 arranged to receive a cap 18 by screwing.

The cap 18 is interchangeable and has a different shape and functiondepending on the use of the container 1.

When the container 1 is stored or transported while it is full, the cap18 can be a traditional cap arranged to hermetically close the opening12, as shown in FIG. 4.

When the container 1 must be emptied in several operations and whilecontrolling the quantity and flow rate of the liquid taken from thecontainer, the cap 18 comprises a flow duct 20 making it possible to letthe liquid flow outside the container through an outlet 22 provided atthe end of the flow duct 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The flow duct 20therefore makes it possible to place the inner space 8 in fluidcommunication with the outside of the container 1 through the cap 18.

The outlet 22 extends along an axis S substantially perpendicular to themain axis A, such that the axis S extends substantially vertically whenthe container 1 is in the reclined position, which allows the liquid toflow through the outlet 22 by gravity.

The flow duct 20 comprises a tubular upstream segment 24, extendingthrough the cap 18 along the main axis A so as to emerge in the innerspace 8, and a tubular downstream segment 26, extending between theupstream segment 24 and the outlet 22 along the axis S to the outside ofthe inner space 8.

According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a closing off element28 extends in the downstream segment 26 and makes it possible to cut thefluid communication between the inner space 8 and the outlet 22. Theclosing off element 28 is formed by an outer wall 30 extending againstthe inner wall of the downstream segment 26 and having a shapesubstantially complementary to this inner wall. The outer wall 30therefore has a hollow tube shape defining an inner duct 31 extending inthe flow duct 20. As shown in FIG. 3, a liquid passage orifice 32extends through part of the outer wall 30 so as to allow communicationbetween the outside of the outer wall 30 and the inner duct 31 throughthe orifice 32. The closing off element 28 is rotatable around the axisS in the downstream segment 26 between a closed position, in which theouter wall 30 extends across from the upstream segment 24 so as to closethe flow duct 20 and interrupt the fluid communication between the innerspace 8 and the outlet 22, and an open position, in which the liquidpassage orifice 32 is placed across from the upstream segment 24 so asto allow the liquid to flow in the flow duct 20 and to place the innerspace 8 in fluid communication with the outlet 22, as shown in FIGS. 1and 2. The rotation between the open position and the closed position isfor example controlled by a gripping element 34 able to be actuated by auser.

The closing off element 28 further comprises an inner wall 36 separatingthe inner duct 31 into two parts isolated from one another. One of theseparts forms a portion of a liquid flow channel 38 of the flow duct 20and the other forms a portion of an air passage channel 40 of the flowduct 20. The liquid passage orifice 32 extends on the side of the innerwall 36 defining the portion of the liquid flow channel 38.

The outer wall 30 further comprises an air passage orifice 42 extendingthrough the outer wall 30 on the side of the inner wall 36 defining theportion of the air passage channel 40. The air passage orifice 42 ispositioned across from the liquid passage orifice 32 such that when theclosing off element 28 is in the open position, the air passage channel40 is also across from the upstream segment 24, like the liquid passageorifice 32. Thus, the air passage orifice 42 and the liquid passageorifice 32 extend on either side of the inner wall 36 across from oneanother, as shown in FIG. 3. According to the embodiment shown in thisfigure, the air passage orifice 42 has an elongated oblong shape with alength exceeding the length of the liquid passage orifice 32 along thecircumference of the outer wall 30. Thus, the air passage orifice 42 isacross from the upstream segment 24 over a larger rotation range of theclosing off element 28 than the liquid passage orifice 32.

A pipe 44 extends in the inner space 8 of the container between a firstend 46, or downstream end, and a second end 48, or upstream end. Thefirst end 46 of the pipe 44 is fastened in an orifice traversing thedownstream segment 26 of the flow duct 20 so as to emerge in thedownstream segment 26 across from the air passage orifice 42 of theclosing off element 28.

The pipe 44 is secured in rotation with the cap 18. This means that therotation of the cap 18 around the axis A rotates the pipe 44 around themain axis A. This is for example obtained by fastening the first end 46in an orifice traversing the downstream segment 26 of the flow duct 20of the cap 18. Thus, when the cap is in the process of being screwed orunscrewed, the pipe is rotated by the cap.

According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pipe comprises adownstream segment 50 extending from the first end in the upstreamsegment 24 of the flow duct 20. The downstream segment 50 of the pipe 44extends parallel to the main axis A up to a bend 52 of the pipe 44extending in the inner space 8. The pipe 44 next comprises an upstreamsegment 54 extending from the bend 52 to the second end 48.

The upstream segment 54 of the pipe extends along a tilted axis Tforming an angle α substantially comprised between 25° and 75° with themain axis A. The angle α is measured between the part of the axis of thedownstream segment 50 of the pipe 44 extending upstream of the bend 50and the axis T of the upstream segment 54, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.According to another embodiment, the pipe 44 extends entirely on thetilted axis T forming the angle α with the main axis A. According to oneembodiment, the angle α is comprised between 30 and 60° and is forexample close to 45°.

The total length of the pipe 44 between its first and second ends 46, 48is greater than or equal to half the length of the container measuredalong the main axis A, i.e., half the length of the side wall 6.According to one embodiment, the total length of the pipe 44 is greaterthan or equal to 75% of the length of the container measured along themain axis A. The majority of the total length of the pipe 44 is formedby the upstream segment 54 of the pipe 44, i.e., by the part extendingalong the tilted axis T. Thus, the pipe 44 extends essentially, or evencompletely, along the tilted axis T.

The pipe 44 is made from a substantially rigid material, while having acertain elasticity. These features mean that the pipe 44 retains itsshape extending essentially along the tilted axis T without needing asupport element outside the pipe 44, and that it is able to regain thisshape when a stress, such as bearing, exerted on it is released. As anexample, the pipe 44 is made from thermoplastic polymer, such aspolyamide, for instance Rilsan®.

The features of the pipe described above cause the second end 48 of thepipe to extend above the liquid level in the container 1, as will bedescribed later in relation to the method for using the container.

The pipe 44 can be made in two separate parts 56, 58, one of which isnested on the other. The first part 56 is for example permanentlyfastened on the cap 18 and for example comprises the downstream segment50 and the bend 52, and the second part 58, nested on the first part,comprises the upstream segment 54. A same cap 18 can thus be used withdifferent containers, for example with different capacities, while thesecond part 56 is changed, for example to modify its length based on thecapacity of the container 1.

The first part 56 is then secured in rotation with the cap 18 and thesecond part 28 is secured in rotation with the first part 56. The pipe44 assembly is thus secured in rotation with the cap 18.

The pipe 44 forms the rest of the air passage channel 40, while the partof the upstream segment 24 of the flow duct 20 outside the pipe 44 formsthe rest of the liquid flow channel 38. The air passage channel 40 istherefore completely isolated from the liquid flow channel 38.

The assembly formed by the flow duct 20 and the closing off element 28therefore forms a tap making it possible to control the flow of liquidfrom the container 1 through the cap 18.

The method for using the container 1 described above will now bedescribed.

The container 1 is first filled with a liquid. The container is moreparticularly suitable for containing a viscous liquid. “Viscous” refersto a liquid having a kinematic viscosity greater than 20 cSt, i.e.,greater than 20 mm²·s⁻¹ at room temperature. The viscosity of the liquidis for example less than 1700 cSt, i.e., less than 1700 mm²·s⁻¹ at roomtemperature. Such a viscosity range for example covers different gradesof oils for a vehicle, such as lubricants for an engine andtransmissions. The kinematic viscosity at room temperature of theviscous liquid can for example be measured using the method described instandard ISO-3104, titled “Petroleum products—Transparent and opaqueliquids—Determination of kinematic viscosity and calculation of dynamicviscosity”.

The container 1 is then in the upright position and has no cap 18, whichallows the container to be filled quickly. In a known manner, thefilling is done so as to leave a headspace 60 with no liquid, i.e., theinner space 8 is not completely filled, for easier manipulation of thefilled container 1.

The container is next closed, still in its upright position, using atraditional cap as shown in FIG. 4. The container can thus betransported, for example by its handle 10, and stored in the uprightposition or reclined position with no risk of the liquid leaking throughthe mouth 14.

When the contents of the container must be used in a controlled quantityand repeatedly, i.e., when the container is not emptied in a singleoperation, which may be done simply by removing the cap, the container 1is placed in the upright position and the traditional cap is replaced bya cap 18 provided with a tap, as previously described.

To that end, when the container 1 is in the upright position, thetraditional cap is removed by unscrewing from the mouth 14. The cap 18provided with the tap is next positioned on the mouth 14. It isunderstood that if the pipe 44 is made in two parts 56, 58, these partsare assembled first. To place the cap 18, the complete pipe 44 is firstinserted into the inner space 8 until the cap 18 comes into contact withthe mouth 14.

The cap 18 is next screwed on the mouth 14, which rotates the pipe 44inside the inner space. Due to the angle α, which does not exceed 75°,the rotation of the pipe 44 can be done with no interference with theside wall(s) 6, i.e., without the pipe 44 coming into contact with theside wall(s) during screwing of the cap 18. It is, however, possible forthe pipe 44 to come into contact with one of the side walls 6 duringscrewing, in particular the wall 6 closest to the mouth 14. In thiscase, the elasticity of the pipe 44 and the maximum value of the angle αmean that this contact does not cause the pipe 44 to be blocked againstthe wall 6 and the pipe can continue to rotate after this contact. Thus,the pipe 44 does not prevent the cap 18 from being screwed on the mouth14. Furthermore, due to its rigidity, the pipe 44 does not form a pelletduring the screwing of the cap 18, i.e., it retains its essentiallyrectilinear shape along the tilted axis T.

When the cap 18 is completely screwed on the mouth 14, the container 1is tilted from its upright position to its reclined position, while theclosing off element is in its closed position.

The cap 18 and the mouth 14 are arranged such that when the cap 18 iscompletely screwed on the mouth 14 and the container is in its reclinedposition, the downstream segment 26, and therefore the outlet 22, of thetap are oriented vertically downward in order to allow liquid to flow bygravity. Likewise, the pipe 44 is fastened to the cap 18 such that, whenthe cap 18 is completely screwed on the mouth 14 and the container is inits reclined position, the second end 48 of the pipe 44 extends near theside wall 6 or the part of the side wall positioned opposite the sidewall 6 or the side wall parts on which the container rests in thereclined position. Thus, due to the headspace provided with no liquid,the second end 48 of the pipe 44 emerges from the liquid and extendsabove the liquid level in the container in the reclined position, asshown in FIG. 1.

It should be noted that the viscosity of the liquid and the smalldiameter of the pipe, for example from about 3 mm to 6 mm for the innerdiameter of the pipe, prevent the liquid from penetrating inside thepipe 44 during screwing of the cap 18 and when the container is tiltedfrom its upright position to its reclined position.

When a quantity of liquid must be withdrawn from the container, forexample when part of the liquid contained in the container must bedecanted into a smaller capacity container, the closing off element 28is moved toward its open position when the smaller-capacity container ispositioned below the outlet 22.

When the liquid passage orifice 32 is across from the upstream segment24, the liquid begins to flow through the liquid flow channel 38 and ispoured through the outlet 22. At the same time, the first end 46 of thepipe 44 is positioned across from the air passage orifice 42 and the aircan circulate in the air passage channel 40. Thus, outside air entersthe space extending above the liquid level in the container, whichplaces this space at atmospheric pressure and accelerates the emptyingof the liquid, as is known per se.

The fact that the length of the air passage orifice 42 is greater thanthat of the liquid passage orifice 32 makes it possible to allow air tocirculate in the air passage channel 40, irrespective of the section ofthe liquid passage orifice 32 across from the upstream segment 24. Thus,the flow rate of the liquid can be adjusted by increasing or decreasingthe section of the liquid passage orifice 32 across from the upstreamsegment 24 while preserving the air intake function inside the container1.

The container described above therefore makes it possible to acceleratethe emptying of a container 1 containing a viscous liquid while beingrobust and easy to use due to the characteristics of the pipe 44.

The same cap 18 can be used simply with different containers havingdifferent capacities, by replacing the part 58 of the pipe 44 to adaptits length to the capacity of the container.

The invention has been described with a cap comprising a tap, but it isunderstood that the invention could apply to a cap simply comprising aflow duct with no closing off element and the emptying of which wouldbegin by simply tilting the container from the upright position to thereclined position and would stop by returning the container to theupright position.

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A container intended to contain a liquid having aviscosity greater than 20 cSt, said container comprising: an upper wall,a lower wall and at least one side wall extending between the upper walland the lower wall, said walls defining an inner space of the container,a single orifice extending in said upper wall along a main axis, a capscrewed on said upper wall so as to close the orifice, said capcomprising a flow duct in fluid communication with the inner space andprovided with an outlet extending along an axis substantiallyperpendicular to the main axis, said duct comprising a liquid flowchannel and an air passage channel emerging in said outlet, a pipeextending in the inner space and comprising a first end in fluidcommunication with the outlet and a second end intended to extend abovethe level of the liquid in the container, the pipe being secured inrotation with the cap, wherein the pipe extends essentially along atilted axis forming an angle substantially comprised between 25° and 75°with the main axis and having a length greater than or equal to half thelength of the container measured along the main axis.
 12. The containeraccording to claim 11, wherein the pipe has a length greater than orequal to 75% of the length of the container measured along the mainaxis.
 13. The container according to claim 11, comprising a separatingwall extending in the flow duct, said separating wall sealablyseparating the liquid flow channel and the air passage channel.
 14. Thecontainer according to claim 11, comprising a closing off elementclosing off the flow duct, said closing off element being movablebetween an open position, in which the outlet is in fluid communicationwith the inner space, and a closed position, in which the outlet isisolated from the inner space.
 15. The container according to claim 14,wherein the closing off element comprises an outer wall provided with aliquid passage orifice and an air passage orifice, said outer wallclosing the flow duct in the closed position of the closing off elementand said passage openings being positioned respectively across from theliquid flow channel and the air passage channel in the open position ofthe closing off element.
 16. The container according to claim 15,wherein the outer wall is rotatable around the axis of the outletbetween the closed position and the open position so as to move theliquid and air passage openings outside or opposite the liquid flowchannel and the air passage channel.
 17. The container according toclaim 11, wherein the pipe is substantially rigid.
 18. The containeraccording to claim 11, wherein the pipe comprises a downstream segmentextending substantially rectilinearly along the main axis and anupstream segment extending substantially rectilinearly along the tiltedaxis, said pipe comprising a bend between the downstream segment and theupstream segment, said bend forming an angle substantially comprisedbetween 25° and 75° between the tilted axis and the main axis.
 19. Thecontainer according to claim 11, wherein the pipe is formed in twoparts, one of the parts being nested on the other part.
 20. A method forusing a container (1) according to claim 11, the method comprising thefollowing steps: filling the container with a liquid having a viscositygreater than 20 cSt through the opening, the container being in anupright position, in which the main axis of the opening extendssubstantially vertically, closing the container using a cap screwed onthe upper wall, which rotates the pipe, the angle formed by the pipewith the main axis being such that the cap can be screwed withoutblocking the pipe against the side wall of the container, tilting thecontainer from the upright position to a reclined position, in which themain axis of the opening extends substantially horizontally, such thatthe liquid can flow through the flow duct while air is brought above theliquid level in the container by the pipe.